Beet harvester



Jan- 29, 1935 H. c. RAssMANN 4 1,`989,152

BEET HARVESTER Filed Dec. 50, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 29, 1935.

H. c. RAssMANN BEET HARVESTER 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Deo. 30, 1952Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4, showing the conveyor carrying abeet.

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative form of th guiding sprockets at thereceiving end of the conveyor.

Figure 7 is a detail partly in section of the form of chain and guidinglugs used with the sprocket structure of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail showing another form of supporting the conveyorchains along the guiding track which extends into the harvester andwhere the conveyor chain does not have the guiding lugs projecting fromthe side of the same.

My beet harvester A is constructed with aframe B mounted upon the rearwheels 10 and front guiding wheels 11. By means of the steering wheel 12the harvester A maybe guided as it is pulled from the hitch end 13 whichmay be connected to a tractor or any other suitable means for drawingthe harvester through the beat field.

The mechanism of 'the harvester A may be operated by a separate engineunit C mounted at the rear of the frame B; The operator of the harvesterA is provided with a seat 14 and by means of the levers 15 and 16 thebeet elevating plow 17 and the receiving end 18 with the guiding prongs19 are raised and lowered in accordance with the desire of the operator.

A primary feature of the harvester A 'is the conveyor D which isprovided with endless chains 20 adapted to operate along the inclinedframe composed ofthe tubular members 21 which are spaced apart in amanner to permit the conveyor chains 20 to operate between the same.

The frame'members 21 are provided with wearing track plates 22 on top ofthe same uponwhich the fingers or lugs 23 which' are carried by thelinks of the chains 20 slide as the chains 20 pass along between theframe members 21 in the operation of the harvester A. 'I'he fingers orlugs 23 are connected tovthelinks of the chains 20 so that theyalternate in position inrelation to the respective links of the chains,and thereby intert with each other as the link chains 20 are operated.This permits the fingers or lugs 23 to be comparatively close togetherwhen travelling up the inclined track frame 21, as indicated in Figure 1and in Figure 3.

The receiving end 18 of the conveyor D is provided with sprocket wheels24 and 25. The sprocket wheel 24 may be mounted by the bracket arm 26 tothe front end of the frame member 21 to hold the same in rigid operatingposition while` the sprocket is resiliently mounted bythe arm 27 whichis pivoted atv 28 and which Ais provided with an end 29 engaging againstthe coil spring 30. An adjusting bolt 31 is mounted on the rside ofthe'frame 21 and by means of the nut 32 the relative position of thesprocket 25 may be adjusted in relation to the sprocket 24 so as to openor close the receiving end of theconveyor D as appears in dotted Outlinein Figure V3. IA slot 33 in the arm 27 permits the arm to slide over thebolt 3l. The nut 32 limits the movement of thesprocket 25-toward thesprocketg24 which is automatically held inoperative. position bythespring 30. This construction provides a resilient receiving end betweenthe sprockets 24 and 25 of the conveyor 4D so that when the plow 17raises the beets out of the ground and the prongs 19 guide the foliageup between the chains' 20 and the fingers 23 collect the foliage andguide it in between Vthe chains 20, the receiving end 18 of the conveyorcan expand and contract to fit the respective foliage and beetreceived'therein in the operation of the harvester A. This provides avery desirable receiving end for the conveyor D and prevents anycrowding or undue strain on the receiving parts of the conveyor.

The conveyor D is formed with a resilient side plate 34 held inoperative position to bear against one of-fthe chains 20 by means of aseries of coil springs 35 which urge the bearing plate 34 toward thechain 20 in a manner to keep the respective chains 20 in spring contactwith each other as they travel between the .side frames 21.

`This structure permits the chains to open between each othersufficiently to receive and engage the *foliage 36 of the'beet 37, asillustrated in Figure 5. Thus the beetsare positively and firmly carriedby the conveyorD up to the topping mechanism E whichis provided withrotating knives which overlap in a' manner to cut the tops olf of thebeets 3,7 automatically as they are carried toward the same. Thesetopping knives are of a construction as has been defined in theapplication of Pierson, Serial No. 572,317, and which are constructedwith mechanism to adjust the cutting knives in lrelation to the body ofthe beet 37 to cut the :foliage clean, automatically off of the body ofthe beet 37;

The prongs 19 are formed with forwardly eX- tending spaced apart ends 38which are bent to act as foliage guiding prongs running along on top ofthe ground above the elevating plow 17. The prongs 19 convergebackwardly toward the frame members 21 to which they are attached at 39,and the portion between the front ends 38 and the attached end 39 archesupwardly at 40, which portions converge toward each other of therespective prongs 19 and form arches over the receiving end 18 'of theconveyor D and over the sprockets 24 and 25. Each prong 19 is providedwith a rearwardly extending under prong 41 which projects below thesprockets 24 and 25,- forming a space' between the prong 41 and the`arched portion '40 to permit the fingers 23 to be free to pass incollecting-the foliage of the beets as theyv are elevated up to theconveyor D. Thus the prongs 19 guide the `foliage of the beet, as wellas the body-thereof'which may be engaged by the prongs 41 while it isforced into v the conveyor D.' In this manner the beets are uniformlyfcarried in the spaced apart position in which they are-taken from theground, with the foliage lprojecting upwardly into the conveyor whichcarries them rapidly to the topper Ewhere their tops are cut offautomatically. The operation of the harvester continues with precisionand accuracy whichv is very desirable and provides a means of toppingthe beets of the foliage more uniformly and accurately than has beenaccomplished heretofore. A

Where the fingers'or lugs 23 are secured to the different links of thechains 20, as illustrated in Figure 1 and in Figure 3, they'are formedso as to project on either side of the chain 20. vThe chains 20 runaround the idle sprockets 24 and 25 and asv the chains' pass aroundlthese sprockets the ngers 23 intermesh and slide up the inclined frameformed by the' side members 21 with the fingers 23 resting on thewearing plates 22. Thus the chains 20 are held in line as illustrated inFigures 4 and 5 in carrying the beets up the conveyor D and the foliage36 is collected and guided by the ngers 23 ofthe conveyor D. It may bedesirable' to form the conveyor chains 20 as i1- lustrated in detail inFigure 7 with the lugs 40 projecting onlyon one side of the chain 20 soas to act as a guide sliding over the wearing platel 22. When-tuecnainloisffonned' in this-memuthen th'elsprocket wheels 4sueltos 2tmdmly be substituted by the spliocke't 415 thel iingers 42 alternatelybetween the teeth of thefsame so that-eech-sprocket' sucia as 2t' und 25wouldlbe substituted by a ement lila? if? having ilngers'42. onm'uctlnn:the

nngers 42 wouldlntennesh' and overlap Vat' a point through the yradiiofthers'ru'ocketl'andthus the fingers 42 on the sprockets 41? would notte collect the foila'ge intotheoonveyorD.

-A further variation may be employed'j in the' harvester A' in using'conveyor vchains' im4 vlthwt lugs thereon and by using a multiplicity ofsprockets 43 which aremounted inthe side trame portions 21asillustmtedin Figure I. It vwldstill' bev-desirablet'o use sprocketsIll` with? the lingers 42 when using 4a chain-20 whiohfwould'besuidedbythe sprocketsii and when neither ofthe'nngels 23 nor the'l'ugs 40"areon iecminsilo'. Rie collecting and guiding fingers: 4! onlthespmcketsl41 is only illustrative of Yameans of providing ngers for gathering'thetoliageinto' the D and it is 'also true that theiingers may-besubstituted for other collecting'andguidlng Ineens #filth @e`ptlelpul`feuhiresand-sobjects of my hvlnflhesdllnmtions'show a means of`of .thesamel and may within ther-scope of the following chmul without;from the principles of tueiimention; 1 l v 1. beethafvedterincluding, a'frame, means beet elevating plows, folillev 1 `above said plows,anendesseonveyorfor receiving the beets indialing l of'foliage-'collecting lingers each oll abovesaidconveyor adapted tointer-Illes!!l gather Athe foliage in relation tenir! thebeets into saidconveyor, elrriesthe beets 'intovposition to be oftl'ieir'1olingeil 27Kincluding, a conveyor with'afpair offendles's chains, means for guidingsaidl chmflinrparailel relation through said? a vcries `of 'foliagecollecting the upper edges'fof said chains adapted tointennesh in saidconveyor collecting {Uitagennd simultaneously supporting saldi-chainsin.v alinemen't in said confor holding the chains 20 inoperativepositiorr inI 'vor the conveyor D. principle 'isV apparent-andit isv importantA in? the operation of" the harvester-lA. I Y

The engine C which may bef-otanytype'ot' nature is connectedr bysuitable means to' the operating-parts of the! harvester A so--as todrive the chains 2D- oi'f' the conveyor D: The the chains 20 iscarrledarormd unsuitable pulleys outside oftheftraek frame 21. edn'-nec'tionbetween theengine and the conveyor po chains 2D is vonlyillustrated 'diagrammatieally lin" Figure ll and/is not shownin detail,thesamebeing of ordinary welllmown type where an operating clutch may beemployed between the engine C and the conveyor D. The same is true inregard to the topper means E which cuts oft the foliage from the body ofthe beets and which is adapted to be driven by a series of gears 45 sothat when the engine C is operating the operator may manipulate a clutchin any suitable manner which will cause the same to drive the conveyor Dand the topper E when it is desired. It is also true that the operatormay release the driving'of the engine C so that the conveyor D and thetopper mechanism E will be stopped.

A series of yoke frame portions 46 having an arch-like formation extendover and above the frame portions 21 and these are adapted to hold thesame spaced apart with a clear space above the frame portions 2l for thefoliage to travel in along the conveyor D. y

In the operation of the harvester A the beets are elevated by the plow1'7 while the prongs 19 guide the foliage between the sides of the sameassisted by the rear prongs 41, guiding the beets with the foliagecollected into the conveyor D and carrying the beets up to the topperknives, all of which operation is automatic and timed with accuracy thatpermits the harvester A to be operated rapidly along the rows of beets,lifting them from the ground and topping them in the single operation.'I'he beets may be collected from the harvester in any suitable mannerwithout being discharged back onto the ground. ii it is desired. Thus Iprovide a beet harvester which removes the beets from the ground anddisposesV of the foliage in a simple and effective and positive manner.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have 3. Af het like including,'a conmol,l'aek meansin said conveyor, nur eueins'foperaisle in saidtrack, idle sprockets Ioralid chains, s'aidsprin'g track urging saidchains toward each other said conveyor, and meansabove 'saideliminator-holding' the porof saidf chains seidtrack in operative 4;beet harvester including, a

if 'sf chains. frame in which said vto spring means for pressing seidchains' other in said and' i'inge'iE lugs'l said chains spaced above theupper edge thereof adapted to act as foliage collecting means andsupporting elements for vguiding said chains in operative alinement-while operating under spring tension urged toward -each other.

5. A conveyor for a beet harvester and the like including, a pair ofconveying chains, a track frame in which said chains are adapted tooperate, resilient means for holding said chains urged toward each otherin said frame, idle sprockets at the receiving end of said conveyor foreach of said chains, lmeans for mounting one of said sprockets rigidlyin operative position, and bell crank means for adjustably andresiliently operating' the other of said sprockets to permit the same tomove away from the rigidly held sprocket so as to open said conveyor toreceive foliage between said chains thereof.

6. A conveyor for a beet harvester comprising, a. pair of link chains,sprockets for carrying said chains, a pair of idle sprockets at thereceiving end of said conveyor, means for mounting one of said sprocketsand a bell crank lever supporting the-other of said pair of sprocketsresiliently to permit said conveyor to open readily to receive the beetfoliage therebetween, rigid means for adjusting the resiliency of saidmounting means, and means for operating said conveyor chains in unison.

7. A conveyor for a beet harvester comprising, a series of conveyingendless link chains, a' pair of idle sprockets at the receiving end ofsaid conveyor, a spring track between which said chains are adapted tooperate to hold the chains in spring contact with each other throughsaid conveyor, means above said conveyor for holding said chainsinoperative falinexnentgwith each i otherin said spring track;"andxameansifor `adjustably :and resiliently supporting one/,ofthefsprockets: of said pair to permit thel opening `.of-fthespace-between the chains of said conveyor' bylmoreore'ss foliage passingbetween the same, and means-foroperat'- ing said conveyor in unison. r.'-n'j i- L 8. A conveyor for abeet,harvestergincluding apair of trackmembers, arched f ramesportions for spacing saidtrack. members .apartL aresilient, bearing plate ir;1..saic1l track.- v.c endlelssconveyorchains, means above saidconveyor=f or carrying. said conveyor chains-inSaid track-urged; byl said, spring bearing plate toward each o ,thlrandresil: ientlyy operated together; to-.receive .f foliage there: between,and foliage collecting fingers, above. the adjacent surfaces of theconveyors-which collect the foliage at the freceiving endoffsaid-conveyor which act also to guideiand hold vthefchadns of theconveyor4 inl` operative-:alinen'len .A 9. Arconveyor` foraibeet,haryestergmcluding.. a pair of endless'chains, meanspositioned;;above said endless chainsforboth guiding'said; chairrs intooperative 4alinement td-iresiliently engage beet foliagefbetween :thefsame, and for. engaging;I the beet tops directly, idle sprocket meansat.-thereceiving endof szatidgconyeyor,-` and ,means for resilientlysupporting said sproketrmeans attheV receivingend of the conveyorto;,permit the conf veyor Y chains toj open and .s freely receivefoliage.

into saidconveyohff 10. A conveyor..for :beetgjharvesters.and likerincluding, a pair efec-operating .link chains,v

chain supporting means from which said*chainl depends, .idle sprocketsfor `vsupportingsrailcliains, a Spring guide track; hebweenwhhnsidchaine are adapted to be carriedin,aimannerhtoresilie 1y urge said`chains toward-each, other@ an I .I flexible receiving :end,formedyinsaid conveyor 1tov vating :the beets including ,the foliage from thejground, means fon-guiding the foliage of the beets im@ afollectedupright positin, Conveyor means for-receiving the-:foliage ofthe beetsand carry# inggthegsamejalqng the conveyor, conveyorsupporting-meansfabove ysaid conveyor from which said conveyor Ydepends., vmeans; on said conveyor supporting means *for extending intoand engagingthefoliage;and. means associated with said conveyor forltoppingthel Vfoliage froml the 'body Qf` the beets. E, l

13. ,1A conveyor.4 forbeet rharvesters including, a pairofopposedconveyorgmernbera means for operating said members to travel together,to engagetheqfoliage of v the beets in conveying* thesamegrneans,forbunching the foliage of the beets to,;be ponveyed,ande-,introducing the same into saidconveyor, means for holdingv saidconveyor members-.substantially parallel throughout the major..portionoftheirzlength, and an adjustably resiliently separable .endon saidconveyorto en-- gagefgvarousamounts., of foliage. between Y saidconveyors.-

' gli.,l HUGO c. RAssMNN.

